Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes generating a content preserving handoff table that includes a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, selecting a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI. An apparatus includes means for generating a content preserving handoff table, means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, means for selecting a selected LOI and a selected RF channel, and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119

The present application for patent is a Continuation-in-Part and claims priority to patent application Ser. No. 12/051,758, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for RF Handoff in a Multi-Frequency Network”, filed Mar. 19, 2008, pending, and claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/896,255 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Providing Handoff in Multiple Frequency Networks” filed Mar. 21, 2007, and to Provisional Application No. 60/945,292, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Providing Handoff in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Jun. 20, 2007, both assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to Provisional Application No. 60/910,191, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Apr. 4, 2007, and to Provisional Application No. 60/945,317, entitled “Methods And Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Jun. 20, 2007, both assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present application relates generally to the operation of data networks, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for RF channel selection in a multi-frequency network.

2. Background

Data networks, such as wireless communication networks, have to trade off between services customized for a single terminal and services provided to a large number of terminals. For example, the distribution of multimedia content to a large number of resource limited portable devices (subscribers) is a complicated problem. Therefore, it is important for network operators, content retailers, and service providers to have a way to distribute content and/or other network services in a fast and efficient manner and in such a way as to increase bandwidth utilization and power efficiency.

A multi-frequency network (MFN) is a network in which multiple radio frequencies (RFs) (or RF channels) are used to transmit media content. One type of MFN is a horizontal multi-frequency network (HMFN) where a distribution waveform is transmitted over different RF channels in different local areas. The same or different content may be transmitted as part of distribution waveform carried over different RF channels in such local areas. Another type of MFN is a vertical multi-frequency network (MFN) in which multiple radio frequency (RF) channels are used in a given local area to transmit independent distribution waveforms with an aim to increase the capacity of the network (in terms of the ability to deliver more content to a device/end user). An MFN deployment may also consist of VMFN in certain areas and HMFN in certain other areas.

In a typical HMFN, a local operations infrastructure (LOI) comprises transmitting sites that operate to transmit a single distribution waveform over an RF channel in a selected geographic area. In a typical VMFN, a local operations infrastructure (LOI) comprises transmitting sites that operate to transmit multiple distribution waveforms over multiple RF channels in a selected geographic area. Each distribution waveform may comprise one or more content flows that can be selected at a receiving device for rendering. Adjacent LOIs may utilize the same or different RF channels.

During operation, a receiving device may perform an RF handoff as a result of data acquisition failures for desired content. For example, acquisition failures can happen due to varying channel conditions as a result of device mobility. Typically, the device may handoff to any available RF channel that carries the desired content. However, if the device randomly hands off to any RF channel that carries the desired content, the LOI associated with the selected RF channel may not carry other content that is in common with the current LOI. Also, the LOI associated with the selected RF channel may not carry any additional content that is not available in the current LOI. For example, the LOI associated with the selected RF channel may carry less common content (with the current LOI) than LOIs associated with other available RF channels carrying the desired content. This situation may result in the device not having access to common and additional content after an RF handoff, which will adversely impact the user experience.

Therefore, it is desirable to have a handoff mechanism that operates to allow a device to perform a handoff in a multi-frequency network in a fast and efficient manner and to maximize common and additional content for an enhanced user experience.

SUMMARY

In one or more aspects, a handoff system, comprising methods and apparatus, is provided that operates to provide handoff in a multi-frequency network. For example, when a handoff event is detected, the handoff system determines a new RF channel to which a device may tune to receive desired content. The handoff system operates to consider a plurality of factors, including but not limited to, signal strength, content availability, and other factors to determine the new RF channel. After the switch to the new RF channel, the device can receive the desired content and has the ability to switch to additional content that may be available on other RF channels in the associated LOI in a fast and efficient manner.

In an aspect, a method is provided for RF channel handoff in a multi-frequency network. The method comprises generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff. The method also comprises selecting a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI.

In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for RF channel handoff in a multi-frequency network. The apparatus comprises processing logic configured to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, and select a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI. The apparatus also comprises channel switch logic configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI.

In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for RF channel handoff in a multi-frequency network. The apparatus comprises means for generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff. The apparatus also comprises means for selecting a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI.

In an aspect, a computer program product is provided for RF channel handoff in a multi-frequency network. The computer program product comprises a machine-readable medium that comprises a first set of codes for causing a computer to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff. The machine readable medium also comprises a third set of codes for causing a computer to select a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI.

In an aspect, at least one integrated circuit is provided that is configured for RF channel handoff in a multi-frequency network. The at least one integrated circuit comprises a first module configured to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and a second module configured to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff. The at least one integrated circuit also comprises a third module configured to select a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and a fourth module configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI.

Other aspects will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Description, and the Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects described herein will become more readily apparent by reference to the following Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a network that illustrates the operation of aspects of a handoff system for use in multi-frequency network;

FIG. 2 shows a transmission frame and neighbor description information for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 3 shows RF channel selection logic for use in aspects of a selection system;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary seamless handoff table applicable for use as a wide or local seamless handoff table in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary seamless handoff table applicable for use as a wide+local seamless handoff in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary partially seamless handoff table applicable for use as a wide, local, or wide+local partially seamless handoff table in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 7 shows a method for performing a handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 8 shows a method for performing a handoff procedure for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 9 shows a method for providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 10 shows a method for providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 11 shows a method for providing a handoff event trigger for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 12 shows a method for providing a handoff event trigger for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 13 shows examples of seamless handoff tables for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 14 shows examples of partially seamless handoff tables for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 15 shows RF handoff logic for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary content preserving handoff table applicable for use in aspects of a handoff system;

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary method for providing a content preserving handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system; and

FIG. 18 shows handoff logic for use in aspects of a handoff system.

DESCRIPTION

In one or more aspects, a handoff system is provided that operates at a device to determine an RF channel in a multi-frequency network to which a handoff may be performed so that desired content can be received. In an aspect, the handoff system assembles information related to neighboring RF channels and the content they carry. This information is assembled into seamless and partially seamless handoff tables. A handoff event is initiated when data acquisition fails for desired content. When a handoff event is detected, the handoff system operates to process the generated handoff tables to determine a new RF channel to which the device can switch to receive desired content.

The system is well suited for use in wireless network environments, but may be used in any type of network environment, including but not limited to, communication networks, public networks, such as the Internet, private networks, such as virtual private networks (VPN), local area networks, wide area networks, long haul networks, or any other type of data network.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are used herein to describe aspects of a selection system.

-   1. Local Area—Refers to a local geographic area such as a building,     group of buildings, community, city, county or other local region in     which services may be broadcast. -   2. Wide Area—Refers to a wide geographic area such as a county,     state, multiple states, country, multiple countries or other wide     region in which services may be broadcast. -   3. Multiplex—Refers to a grouping of content flows. -   4. Wide Area Multiplex—Refers to a grouping of content flows that     are broadcasted over at least one wide area. -   5. Local Area Multiplex—Refers to grouping of content flows that are     broadcasted over at least one local area. -   6. Wide Area Operations Infrastructure (WOI)—Refers to a grouping of     transmitters and associated systems that operate to transmit content     flows over a wide area. A WOI maps to the smallest geographical wide     area which can carry a wide area multiplex. A wide area multiplex     may be broadcasted over one or more WOs. -   7. Local Area Operations Infrastructure (LOI)—Refers to a grouping     of transmitters and associated systems that operate to transmit     content flows over a local area. A LOI maps to the smallest     geographical local area which can carry a local area multiplex. A     local area multiplex may be broadcasted over one or more LOIs. -   8. RF Channel—Refers to an RF frequency that is used to convey a     content distribution waveform over a selected LOI. -   9. Content Channel—Refers to selected content flows within a     particular distribution waveform. For example, a distribution     waveform may comprise multiple content channels and each content     channel may comprise one or more content flows.     Acronyms

The following acronyms are used herein to describe aspects of a selection system.

-   LM—Local Area Multiplex -   WM—Wide Area Multiplex -   NOC—Network Operations Center -   WOI—Wide Area Operations Infrastructure -   LOI—Local Area Operations Infrastructure -   NDM—Neighbor Description Message -   WID—Wide Area Descrambling Identifier -   LID—Local Area Descrambling Identifier -   OIS—Overhead Information Symbols -   CC—Control Channel

FIG. 1 shows a network 100 that illustrates the operation of aspects of a handoff system to provide RF channel selection in multi-frequency network. For example, the network 100 comprises four WOIs (WOI1, WOI2, WOI3, and WOI4) each comprising one LOI (LOI1, LOI2, LOI3, and LOI4, respectively) of a multi-frequency network. Within each LOI, one or more RF channels are used to transmit content. LOI2 and LOI3 have a vertical MFN with two RF channels in each of these LOIs. LOI1 and LOI4 carry only one RF channel. Each RF channel has an associated WID/LID that identifies descrambling sequences that can be used to descramble content transmitted on that RF channel. LOI1, LOI2, LOI3, and LOI4 are neighboring LOIs as shown in the network 100. The LOI1 has LOI2 as its neighbor, the LOI2 has LOI1, LOI3 and LOI4 as its neighbors, the LOI3 has LOI2 as its neighbor and LOI4 has LOI2 as its neighbor.

The network 100 comprises a network operations center (NOC) 102 that operates to receive wide and local content multiplexes for distribution over selected wide and local areas of a multi-frequency network. The NOC 102 also operates to configure the multi-frequency network to distribute that content. To accomplish this, the NOC 102 is aware of the geographic regions of the network that are covered by the LOIs, the RF channels used in each region, and any other network information that may be needed to configure the network and distribute the wide and local area content multiplexes. It should be noted that the network 100 may comprise any number of LOIs.

In an aspect, the NOC 102 comprises neighbor description logic 104. The neighbor description logic 104 operates to assemble information relating to the list of neighboring LOIs for each LOI and the WID/LID descrambling identifiers that are associated with the RF channels in each LOI. For example, the wide and local area content multiplexes are scrambled with wide area and local area scrambling sequences before transmission over the network 100. In an aspect, the neighbor description logic 104 operates to generate neighbor description messages (NDMs) that are configured to provide a list of neighboring LOIs associated with a particular LOI and WID/LID identifiers that identify descrambling sequences associated with RF channels of the particular LOI and its neighboring LOIs. In another aspect, the NDM messages are configured to provide a list of neighboring LOIs and WID/LID identifiers associated with RF channels for any selected group of LOIs. A more detailed description of the NDM messages generated by the neighbor description logic 104 is provided in another section of this document.

The NOC 102 operates to transmit the wide and local area multiplexes and the generated NDMs to the LOIs in the network 100. It should be noted that although only four LOIs are shown, the NOC 102 may transmit the multiplexes and associated NDMs to any number of LOIs.

In an aspect, the LOI1, LOI2, LOI3, and LOI4 comprise one or more transmitter sites. For example, the LOI1 comprises transmitter site 106. Each transmitter site operates to transmit a distribution waveform on a selected RF channel over its respective LOI. It should be noted that each transmitter site comprises one or more servers as illustrated at 108.

In an aspect, the NOC 102 operates to transmit the content multiplexes and the NDMs to the transmitter sites using any suitable transport mechanism. For example, the content multiplexes and the NDMs are transmitted to servers associated with each transmitter site, as illustrated at 110. In an aspect, the NOC 102 transmits the content multiplexes and the NDM messages to the transmitter sites using an MPEG-2 transport mechanism. In this configuration, the multiplexes and NDM messages are assigned MPEG-2 transport identifiers so that servers at each transmitter site can detect and receive selected content multiplexes and an NDM message which are directed to them, respectively.

The servers at the transmitter sites use the transport identifiers to determine which multiplexes and NDM message are intended for them to distribute over their respective LOIs. The servers then operate to pack their respective multiplexes and the NDM message into transmission frames for transmission over selected RF channels. The servers utilize any suitable physical layer process to pack the multiplexes and the NDM message into the transmission frames for transmission. By using the transport identifiers to determine the multiplexes and the NDM message intended for transmission over their respective LOIs, the servers at the transmitter sites need not decode any of the multiplexes or NDM messages. The servers simply detect the appropriate transport identifiers and then pack the identified multiplexes and the NDM message into the transmission frames according to the physical layer process.

The transmission frames comprise content flows associated with the wide and local area multiplexes and the NDM message generated by the neighbor description logic 104. In an aspect, the transmission frames comprise wide and local data partitions that are used to convey the wide and local area content flows, respectively. In addition, the wide and local partitions comprise wide and local control channels. In an aspect, the local control channel is used to distribute the NDM message generated by the neighbor description logic 104 to the devices in each LOI.

In an aspect, the transmitter sites transmit transmission frames over their respective LOIs using the designated RF channels. By using multiple RF channels in LOIs for transmitting transmission frames, the network 100 is able to transmit more content flows over such LOIs. It should be noted that the transmitter sites within a LOI may be co-located or separated by any desired distance. It should also be noted that the NDMs distributed over each LOI may be different because each LOI may have a different set of neighbor LOIs and each neighbor LOI may be associated with different RF channels and associated descrambling sequences with which to descramble the transmitted content.

Within each LOI, descrambling sequence identifiers are associated with each RF channel. The descrambling sequence identifiers comprise wide area descrambling sequence identifiers (WID) and local area descrambling sequence identifiers (LID). The descrambling sequence identifiers identify descrambling sequences that can be used to descramble content received in a particular LOI on a particular RF channel. The descrambling sequence identifiers also identify content multiplexes carried on a particular RF channel. For example, in LOI2 there are two RF channels (i.e., RF2, RF3) and each RF channel is associated with descrambling sequence identifiers that identify descrambling sequences that can be used to descramble associated wide area and local area content multiplexes. For example, RF2 is associated with WID1 and LID1 and carries wide multiplex WM1 and local multiplex LM1; and RF3 is associated with WID2 and LID2 and carries wide multiplex WM2 and local multiplex LM2. WID1, LID1, WID2 and LID2 identify multiplexes WM1, LM1, WM2 and LM2 respectively.

A device 112 operating in the LOI2 is tuned to receive wide area content on channel RF2 that can be descrambled with a descrambling sequence identified by WID1. Details of the device 112 are shown at 114. The device 112 comprises a receiver 116 that operates to tune to a selected RF channel to receive transmission frames. For example, the receiver 116 is tuned to RF2 in LOI2 to receive transmission frames. The transmission frames that are received comprise a local control channel that conveys neighbor description information in one or more NDMs. For example, the NDMs are generated by the neighbor description logic 104 and distributed to the LOIs shown in FIG. 1. In an aspect, an NDM comprises the list of neighboring LOIs for a device's current LOI (i.e. LOI2 for device 112) and WID/LID descrambling identifiers that identify descrambling sequences that are associated with RF channels in the current LOI (i.e., LOI2) and its neighboring LOIs (i.e., LOI1, LOI3 and LOI4). The receiver 116 passes the neighbor description information received in an NDM (or the NDM itself) to RF handoff logic 118, as illustrated at 122. The receiver 116 also descrambles the received content using the correct WID/LID identifiers associated with RF2 in LOI2 and passes the descrambled content to a decoder 120 that operates to render the content for the device user.

The RF handoff logic 118 operates to receive the NDM at 122. The NDM specifies a list of neighboring LOIs for a given LOI and WID/LID identifiers for RF channels in the given LOI and its neighboring LOIs. From this information, the RF handoff logic 118 operates to generate seamless handoff tables and partially seamless handoff tables for content multiplexes carried in device's current LOI. The seamless and partially seamless handoff tables for a given content multiplex carried in the current LOI provide a list of neighboring RFs which can be switched to acquire the given content multiplex. The seamless and partially seamless handoff tables are computed separately for wide and local content multiplexes. For example, a neighboring RF channel has an entry in the wide seamless handoff table associated with a given wide content multiplex carried in the current LOI if that neighboring RF channel carries the given wide content multiplex and if the LOI associated with the neighboring RF channel carries the same set or a superset of wide content multiplexes as the device's current LOI. A neighboring RF channel has an entry in the wide partially seamless handoff table associated with a given wide content multiplex carried in the current LOI if that neighboring RF channel carries the given wide content multiplex and if the LOI associated with the neighboring RF channel does not carry the same set or a superset of wide content multiplexes as the device's current LOI.

In an aspect, an RF handoff may be desired due to one or more handoff events. A handoff event causes the handoff logic 118 to determine a new RF channel and to send a request 124 to the receiver 116 to tune to the new RF channel. The handoff events are events that cause the device 112 to switch from one RF channel to another RF channel to receive a desired content flow. In an aspect, a handoff event can be triggered by or be performed as a result of content acquisition failures associated with desired content (e.g. failures due to varying channel conditions because of device mobility).

In an aspect, content acquisition failures associated with device mobility occur when the device 112 moves from a region covered by LOI2 to a region covered by one or more neighboring LOIs. For example, the device receiver 116 is tuned to receive a desired content flow on a particular RF channel in LOI2. The RF handoff logic 118 operates to determine an RF channel in a neighboring LOI that the receiver 116 can tune to in order to continue to receive the desired content flow when a content acquisition failure is detected as the device 112 moves outside the coverage area of LOI2.

To determine a new RF channel carrying the desired content flow, the RF handoff logic 118 operates to perform one or more of the following functions in aspects of the handoff system.

-   1. Determine (from received neighbor description information) a list     of available RF channels in neighboring LOIs that carry the desired     content flow so that a smooth transition can be performed from the     content acquisition perspective. -   2. Monitor signal strength of neighboring RF channels. -   3. Generate seamless and partially seamless handoff tables for     desired content. These tables comprise entries based on the list of     available RF channels and the content available in LOIs associated     with these RF channels. -   4. Rank the RF channels within the seamless and partially seamless     tables. -   5. Select a selected RF channel from the seamless handoff table     based on rank, wherein the selected RF channel meets RF selection     criteria. -   6. Select the selected RF channel from the partially seamless     handoff table based on rank wherein the selected RF channel meets RF     selection criteria, if selection from the seamless handoff table     fails.

Once the RF channel is determined, the RF handoff logic 118 outputs an RF channel switch message 124 to the receiver 116 to implement the RF handoff. The RF channel switch message contains the correct WID/LID identifiers for the selected RF channel so that the desired content flow can be descrambled by the receiver 116. The receiver 116 performs an RF channel switch to the selected RF channel and descrambles content using the WID/LID received in the channel switch message.

Therefore, in various aspects, the handoff system operates to determine which of the available RF channels in a multi-frequency network is to be selected for handoff so that the reception of desired content can continue after content acquisition failures are detected for the desired content. The handoff system determined the selected RF channel based on seamless and partially seamless handoff tables that are used to rank the available RF channels. Thus, the handoff system operations to select an available RF channel with the highest ranking which meets RF selection criteria. The RF selection criteria ensure that the selected RF channel has a large enough received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value and also meets RF handoff criteria. Details of RF handoff criteria are provided in other sections of this document.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a transmission frame 200 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, the transmission frame 200 may be packed with wide and local content multiplexes and transmitted over the RF channels in the LOIs shown in FIG. 1.

The transmission frame 200 comprises four sub-frames, shown generally at 202, that are used to convey wide and local content. For example, each sub-frame 202 comprises a wide area partition 204 that is packed with wide area content, and a local area partition 206 that is packed with local area content.

Included in the wide area partition 204 is a wide area control channel 208. The wide area control channel 208 operates to convey messages pertaining to wide area content multiplexes. Included in the local area partition 206 is a local area control channel 210. The local area control channel 210 operates to convey messages pertaining to local area content multiplexes. In an aspect, the local area control channel is used to convey neighbor description information as part of the NDM message for use in aspects of a handoff system.

At the start of the transmission frame 200 are overhead information symbols (OIS) 212 that provide overhead information that is used to locate the wide area control channel, the local area control channel, and the wide and local content that is packed into the sub-frames 202. The OIS 212 comprises wide overhead information symbols (WOIS) and local overhead information symbols (LOIS).

In an aspect, content flows are transmitted using Media Logical Channels (MLCs) inside the sub-frames 202. A single MLC may be used to carry one or more content flows. Content flow data can be successfully acquired even if all packets in an MLC are not received correctly because of redundancy added in the data transmitted as part of the MLC. Data acquisition fails for a content flow if MLC packet erasures exceed the allowed error threshold based on added redundancy in the data transmitted as part of the MLC.

In an aspect, neighbor description information contained in the NDM message is generated separately for each LOI and is configured to provide a list of RF channels associated with a selected LOI and its neighboring LOIs. In another aspect, a NDM message is generated for a selected group of LOIs (which may or may not be neighbors), and includes all neighboring LOIs for each of the LOI within the selected group of LOIs. Each of the RF channels described in the neighbor description information is associated with WID/LID descrambling identifiers.

In an aspect, the NDM message is distributed over a LOI using a local control channel that is part of the transmission frames transmitted by the RF channels in that LOI. It should be noted that the neighbor description information carried in the NDM may be formatted in any suitable format, encoded or encrypted, and/or reorganized or divided into two or more message components.

A table 214 illustrates how parameters provided in the NDM message may be organized and stored at a device. The table 214 comprises a LOI identifier 216 that identifies the device's current LOI (i.e., LOI2). The table 214 also includes a Neighbor LOI List 218 that identifies neighboring LOIs of the device's current LOI plus the current LOI itself. The table 214 also includes RF channel identifiers 220, which indicate identifiers that may be used to reference to particular RF channels of the current LOI in other control channel messages. Note that the RF channel identifiers 220 are only provided for the current LOI (i.e., LOI2). The table 214 also comprises RF Frequency identifiers 222 that identify RF frequencies associated with each LOI identified in the Neighbor LOI List 218. The table 214 also comprises WID/LID Identifiers 224 that identify WID/LID descrambling sequence identifiers associated with each RF Frequency 222. Thus, the table 214 may be created and stored at a receiving device and used during operation of the handoff system.

FIG. 3 shows RF handoff logic 300 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, the RF handoff logic 300 is suitable for use as the RF handoff logic 118 shown in FIG. 1. The RF handoff logic 300 comprises processing logic 302, message decoder 304, channel switch logic 310, and overhead input logic 306 all coupled to a data bus 308.

The overhead input logic 306 comprises at least one of a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, and/or hardware executing software. The overhead input logic 306 operates to receive OIS and control channel data over an RF channel to which a device is currently tuned. The overhead input logic 306 passes the received CC data to the message decoder 304. For example, the overhead input logic 306 operates to receive an NDM message that is transmitted over a local control channel as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The message decoder 304 comprises at least one of a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, and/or hardware executing software. In an aspect, the message decoder 304 operates to decode an NDM message received by the control channel input logic 306. For example, the message decoder 304 operates to decode the received NDM message to determine available RF channels associated with the current LOI and its neighboring LOIs. The message decoder 304 decodes the received NDM message to determine WID/LID descrambling sequence identifiers associated with each RF channel in the device's current LOI and its neighboring LOIs. For example, the information received in the NDM message is organized and stored as illustrated in FIG. 2 to provide the WID/LID descrambling identifiers associated with RF channels in the device's current LOI and its neighboring LOIs.

The processing logic 302 comprises at least one of a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, and/or hardware executing software. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to receive a handoff event which indicates that an RF handoff is desired because of data acquisition failures associated with desired content due to changing network conditions (e.g. due to device mobility) or other reasons. In such a case, it may be necessary to perform a handoff to switch to an RF channel in a neighboring LOI which carries the desired content to continue to receive the desired content.

The processing logic 302 operates to process information received in the NDM to generate seamless and partially seamless handoff tables for desired content. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 assembles the handoff tables to comprise those RF channels in neighboring LOIs that are associated with the WID/LID of the desired content. In an aspect, neighboring RF channels associated with same WID carry same wide area content and neighboring RF channels associated with same LID carry same local area content. In an aspect, handoff tables comprise wide, local, and wide+local seamless and partially seamless handoff tables.

Once the RF channels in the handoff tables are determined, the processing logic 302 operates to determine signal strength information related to those RF channels. For example, the processing logic 302 operates to perform RF monitoring for neighboring RFs to receive signal strength parameters associated with RF channels identified in the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables. For example, in an aspect, this information is obtained from a device receiver, such as the receiver 116 shown in FIG. 1.

The processing logic 302 also operates to determine information about the content available in the LOIs associated with each RF channel in the handoff tables. For example, the content information comprises the number of available common multiplexes with the current LOI and the total number of available multiplexes in each identified LOI. The processing logic 302 operates to use the content information to rank RF channels in the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables.

The processing logic 302 operates to receive a handoff event. The handoff event indicates that a handoff to another RF channel is needed to continue to acquire the desired content. For example, the handoff event may indicate that a handoff is desired because of content acquisition failures for the desired content e.g. due to changing network conditions.

Once the handoff event is detected for desired content, the processing logic 302 operates to process RF channels in the seamless handoff table associated with the desired content to determine a selected RF channel for handoff. If there are no RF channels in the associated seamless handoff table or if none of the RF channels in the associated seamless handoff table meet RF selection criteria, then the processing logic 302 processes RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content to determine the selected RF channel for handoff. The processing logic 302 operates to process RF channels in the seamless handoff table and the partially seamless handoff table in their ranking order. Once the selected RF channel is determined, the processing logic 302 passes the identity of this RF channel to the channel switch logic 310. A more detailed description of the operation of the processing logic 302 to select the selected RF channel from the handoff tables and details of RF selection criteria is provided in another section of this document.

The channel switch logic 310 comprises at least one of a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, and/or hardware executing software. The channel switch logic 310 operates to generate an RF channel switch message that comprises the identity of the selected RF channel and its WID/LID descrambling sequence identifiers. The RF channel switch message is sent to the device receiver 116. With this information, the receiver 116 can quickly switch to the selected RF channel and use the received WID/LID descrambling sequences to receive the desired content. Thus, during a handoff, an RF channel can be selected that provides the desired content, meets the RF selection criteria, and is ranked highest from the perspective of common content (with current LOI) and additional content carried in the associated LOI for an enhanced user experience.

In an aspect, the handoff system comprises a computer program product having one or more program instructions (“instructions”) or sets of “codes” stored or embodied on a machine-readable medium, which when executed by at least one processor, for instance, a processor at the processing logic 302, causes a computer to provide the functions described herein. For example, the sets of codes may be loaded into the RF handoff logic 300 from a machine-readable medium, such as a floppy disk, CDROM, memory card, FLASH memory device, RAM, ROM, or any other type of memory device or machine-readable medium that interfaces to the RF handoff logic 300. In another aspect, the sets of codes may be downloaded into the RF handoff logic 300 from an external device or network resource. The sets of codes, when executed, cause a computer to provide aspects of a handoff system as described herein.

RF Channel Monitoring

In an aspect, the handoff system at the device operates to perform monitoring of RF channels carried in the device's current and neighboring LOIs to maintain information related to signal strength for these RF channels. For example, the processing logic 302 operates to obtain a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for RF channels in the current LOI and neighboring LOIs. For each available RF channel, the processing logic 302 may also maintain timestamps associated with RSSI measurements. The timestamps associated with RSSI measurements can be used to invalidate old RSSI entries. The processing logic 302 operates to maintain tables of RF channel monitoring information in a local memory. During handoff, the processing logic 302 utilizes information collected during RF channel monitoring to select an RF channel for handoff purposes. For example, signal strength information is used to evaluate RF channels in seamless and partially seamless handoff tables for handoff purposes.

Wide and Local Content Handoff

In an aspect, the handoff system operates to initiate RF handoff based on handoff events. The RF handoff can be initiated for wide content flows and/or local content flows. In an aspect, if a device is attempting to decode only desired wide content flows and content acquisition failures are detected, a wide content RF handoff will be initiated. In an aspect, if device is attempting to decode only desired local content flows and content a acquisition failures are detected, a local content RF handoff will be initiated. In another aspect, if device is attempting to decode both desired wide and local flows and content acquisition failures are detected, a wide+local content RF handoff will be initiated. A wide content RF handoff is targeted to handoff to an RF which carries at least the desired wide content. A local content RF handoff is targeted to handoff to an RF which carries at least the desired local content and a wide+local content RF handoff is targeted to handoff to an RF which carries both the desired wide and local content. A specific RF handoff type (wide, local or wide+local) will initiate a handoff to an RF channel in an associated seamless or partially seamless handoff table. For example, a wide content RF handoff will initiate a handoff to an RF channel in the seamless or partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired wide content.

Real Time and Non Real Time Content Handoff

A handoff event can be initiated when a device is attempting to acquire real time content flows and content acquisition failures occur. A handoff event can also be initiated when the device is attempting to acquire non real time content flows and content acquisition failures occur. Real time flows are also referred to as activated flows and non real time flows are also referred to as registered flows. A data acquisition procedure to capture data for these flows can be performed in a variety of ways. For example, one data acquisition procedure to capture data for activated (real time) and registered (non real time) flows is provided in the above referenced application (Provisional Application No. 60/910,191, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Apr. 4, 2007, and to Provisional Application No. 60/945,317, entitled “Methods And Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Jun. 20, 2007). The handoff process to execute RF handoff is same for both activated and registered flows, although the handoff process may operate for different timer periods for activated and registered flows. A detailed description of the handoff process for activated and registered flows is captured in other sections of this document.

Handoff Event Trigger Criteria

In an aspect, a handoff event is triggered by certain criteria related to activated and registered flows. Handoff event trigger criteria are evaluated separately for activated and registered flows. If both activated and registered flows are being decoded, then handoff event trigger criteria are evaluated for activated flows only. This is because activated flows (i.e. real time flows) are given higher priority than registered flows (i.e. non real time flows). The failure to acquire an appropriate set of overhead information which includes OIS and control channel (CC) will trigger a handoff event for both activated and registered flows. The overhead information is used to acquire flow data for activated and registered flows.

In various aspects, one or more of the following conditions trigger a handoff event for activated flows.

-   1. Acquisition of the appropriate OIS and control channel (CC) (if     required) fail for desired wide and/or local activated flows. For     example if only wide activated flows are being decoded, then WOIS     and wide CC fail on the current RF. -   2. Data acquisition fails for all activated flows on the current RF. -   3. Acquisition of local OIS and local CC (if required) fail if both     wide and local activated flows are being decoded on current RF     channel. -   4. Data acquisition fails for a subset of activated flows on the     current RF.

For the acquisition of registered flows, the device determines a selected flow group (FG) and attempts to decode registered flows associated with that selected FG. For example, in an aspect, a flow group comprises a grouping of non real time data flows that are grouped together based on selected criteria, such as priority. An example of various types of flow groups is provided in the above referenced application (Provisional Application No. 60/910,191, entitled “methods and Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Apr. 4, 2007, and to Provisional Application No. 60/945,317, entitled “Methods And Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Jun. 20, 2007). The device also attempts to decode any other registered flows carried by the same RF channel as the selected FG. In various aspects, one or more of the following conditions trigger a handoff event for registered flows:

-   1. Acquisition of appropriate OIS and CC (if required) fail for wide     and/or local registered flows in the selected flow group (FG). For     example if selected FG has only wide registered flows, then WOIS and     wide CC fail. -   2. Data acquisition fails for all registered flows in selected FG. -   3. Acquisition of local OIS and local CC (if required) fails if     selected FG includes both wide and local registered flows. -   4. Data acquisition fails for a subset of registered flows in     selected FG.     Seamless Handoff Tables

In an aspect, the handoff system operates to generate and maintain seamless handoff tables for wide and local content multiplexes carried on RF channels in the current LOI. In an aspect, a seamless handoff table for a given wide or local content multiplex includes neighboring RF channels that carry the same given wide or local content multiplex, respectively, and the LOI associated with the neighboring RF channel carries the same set or a superset of wide or local content multiplexes, respectively, as carried in the current LOI. In an aspect, a seamless handoff table for a given combination of wide+local multiplexes includes neighboring RF channels that carry the same combination of wide+local content multiplexes and the LOI associated with the neighboring RF carries the same set or a superset of wide and local content multiplexes as carried in the current LOI. The neighboring RFs included in a given seamless handoff table are referred to as seamless RFs for the associated content multiplex(es).

The following types of seamless handoff tables are maintained:

-   a. Wide seamless handoff table: A separate wide seamless handoff     table is generated and maintained for each wide content multiplex     carried in the current LOI. This table identifies neighboring RF     channels that carry the same wide content multiplex and their     associated LOI carries same set or a superset of wide content     multiplexes as the current LOI. -   b. Local seamless handoff table: A separate local seamless handoff     table is generated and maintained for each local content multiplex     carried in the current LOI. This table identifies neighboring RF     channels that carry the same local content multiplex and their     associated LOI carry same set or a superset of local content     multiplexes as the current LOI. -   c. Wide+Local seamless handoff table: A separate wide+local seamless     handoff table is generated and maintained for each combination of     wide+local content multiplexes carried on a single RF in the current     LOI. This table identifies neighboring RF channels that carry the     same combination of wide+local content multiplexes and their     associated LOI carries same set or a superset of wide+local content     multiplexes as the current LOI.

Depending on the content carried by neighboring RFs, seamless handoff tables may be empty for one or more of the content multiplexes (wide, local or wide+local) carried in current LOI. In an aspect, the seamless handoff table maintains information for each seamless RF channel related to: i) total number of wide and local content multiplexes that are common between the LOI associated with that seamless RF channel and the device's current LOI; and ii) overall total number of content multiplexes carried in the LOI associated with that seamless RF channel. The information (i) and (ii) maintained for seamless RF channels is used to rank these RF channels for the purpose of executing RF handoff.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary seamless handoff table 400 applicable for use as a wide or local seamless handoff table in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the seamless handoff table 400 is generated by the processing logic 302. The seamless handoff table 400 comprises a content multiplex identifier 402 which identifies the wide or local content multiplex for which this seamless handoff table is generated. The seamless handoff table 400 also comprises a {RF, LOI} Identifier 404 that identifies an RF frequency and associated neighboring LOI that carries the wide or local content multiplex identified by the content multiplex identifier 402. The seamless handoff table 400 also comprises an overall number of common multiplexes indicator 406 that indicates the total number of multiplexes that are common between the LOI associated with the identified seamless RF and the current LOI. The seamless handoff table 400 also comprises a total number of multiplexes indicator 408 that indicates the total number of multiplexes available in the LOI associated with the identified seamless RF.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary wide+local seamless handoff table 500 applicable for use in a wide+local seamless handoff in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the wide+local seamless handoff table 500 is generated by the processing logic 302. The wide+local seamless handoff table 500 comprises a content multiplex identifier 502 which identifies the combination of wide+local content multiplexes for which this seamless handoff table is generated. The wide+local seamless handoff table 500 also comprises a {RF, LOI} Identifier 504 that identifies an RF frequency and associated neighboring LOI that carry the wide+local content multiplexes identified by the content multiplex identifier 502. The seamless handoff table 500 also comprises a total number of multiplexes indicator 506 that indicates the total number of multiplexes available in the LOI associated with the identified seamless RF.

Partially Seamless Handoff Tables

In an aspect, the handoff system operates to generate and maintain partially seamless handoff tables for wide and local content multiplexes carried on RF channels in the current LOI. In an aspect, a partially seamless handoff table for a given wide or local content multiplex includes neighboring RF channels that carry the same given wide or local content multiplex respectively, and the LOI associated with the neighboring RF does not carry the same set or a superset of wide or local content multiplexes respectively, as carried in the current LOI. In an aspect, a partially seamless handoff table for a given combination of wide+local multiplexes includes neighboring RF channels that carry the same combination of wide+local content multiplexes and the LOI associated with the neighboring RF does not carry the same set or a superset of wide and local content multiplexes as carried in the current LOI. The neighboring RFs included in a given partially seamless handoff table are referred to as partially seamless RFs for the associated content multiplex(es). As per the definition, the sets of seamless RFs and partially seamless RFs for a given content multiplex are disjoint.

In various aspects, the following types of partially seamless handoff tables are maintained.

-   a. Wide partially seamless handoff table: A separate wide partially     seamless handoff table is generated and maintained for each wide     content multiplex carried in the current LOI. This table identifies     neighboring RF channels that carry the same wide content multiplex     and their associated LOI does not carry same set or a superset of     wide content multiplexes as the current LOI. -   b. Local partially seamless handoff table: A separate local     partially seamless handoff table is generated and maintained for     each local content multiplex carried in the current LOI. This table     identifies neighboring RF channels that carry the same local content     multiplex and their associated LOI does not carry same set or a     superset of local content multiplexes as the current LOI. -   c. Wide+Local partially seamless handoff tables: A separate     wide+local partially seamless handoff table is generated and     maintained for each combination of wide+local content multiplexes     carried on a single RF in the current LOI. This table identifies     neighboring RF channels that carry the same combination of     wide+local content multiplexes and their associated LOI does not     carry same set or a superset of wide+local content multiplexes as     the current LOI.

Depending on the content carried by neighboring RFs, partially seamless handoff tables may be empty for one or more of the content multiplexes (wide, local or wide+local) carried in current LOI. In an aspect, the partially seamless handoff table maintains information for each partially seamless RF channel related to: i) total number of wide and local content multiplexes that are common between the LOI associated with that partially seamless RF channel and the device's current LOI; and ii) overall total number of content multiplexes carried in LOI associated with that partially seamless RF channel. The information (i) and (ii) maintained for partially seamless RF channels is used to rank these RF channels for the purpose of executing RF handoff.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary partially seamless handoff table 600 applicable for use as a wide, local, or wide+local partially seamless handoff table for use in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the partially seamless handoff table 600 is generated by the processing logic 302. The partially seamless handoff table 600 comprises a content multiplex identifier 602 which identifies the wide, local or wide+local content multiplexes for which this partially seamless handoff table is generated. The partially seamless handoff table 600 also comprises a {RF, LOI} Identifier 604 that identifies an RF frequency and associated neighboring LOI that carries the wide, local or wide+local content multiplexes identified by the content multiplex identifier 602.

The partially seamless handoff table 600 also comprises an overall number of common multiplexes indicator 606 that indicates the total number of multiplexes that are common between the LOI associated with the identified partially seamless RF and the current LOI. The partially seamless handoff table 600 also comprises a total number of multiplexes indicator 608 that indicates the total number of multiplexes available in the LOI associated with the identified partially seamless RF.

HANDOFF TABLE EXAMPLES

FIG. 13 shows examples of seamless handoff tables 1300 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, it will be assumed that the device 112 is currently located in LOI2 and is operable to receive content multiplexes associated with WID1, WID2, LID1, LID2 that are transmitted on RF2 or RF3 in LOI2. Thus, the seamless handoff tables 1300 reflect the distribution of content in the network configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 as it relates to the device 112 operating in the LOI2.

Wide seamless handoff tables associated with wide content in LOI2 are shown at 1302 and 1304. The wide seamless handoff table 1302 is associated with a wide content multiplex identified by WID1 and includes seamless RF channel RF4 in LOI3, which carries the same wide content multiplex. In addition, the table 1302 shows that LOI3 has four (4) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes carried in LOI3 is four (4).

The wide seamless handoff table 1304 is associated with a wide content multiplex identified by WID2 and includes seamless RF channel RF5 in LOI3, which carries the same wide content multiplex. In addition, the table 1304 shows that LOI3 has four (4) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes carried in LOI3 is four (4).

Local seamless handoff tables are shown at 1306 and 1308. The local seamless handoff table 1306 is associated with a local content multiplex identified by LID1 and includes seamless RF channel RF4 in LOI3 which carries the same local content multiplex. In addition, the table 1306 shows that LOI3 has four (4) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI3 is four (4).

The local seamless handoff table 1308 is associated with a local content multiplex identified by LID2 and includes seamless RF channel RF5 in LOI3 which carries the same local content multiplex. In addition, the table 1308 shows that LOI3 has four (4) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI3 is four (4).

Wide+local seamless handoff tables are shown at 1310 and 1312. The wide+local seamless handoff table 1310 is associated with a combination of wide+local content multiplexes identified by WID1+LID1 and includes seamless RF channel RF4 in LOI3, which carries the same combination of wide+local content multiplexes. In addition, the table 1310 shows that the total number of multiplexes in LOI3 is four (4).

The wide+local seamless handoff table 1312 includes is associated with a combination of wide+local content multiplexes identified by WID2+LID2 and includes seamless RF channel RF5 in LOI3 which, carries the same combination of wide+local content multiplexes. In addition, the table 1308 shows that the total number of multiplexes in LOI3 is four (4).

Thus, the seamless handoff tables 1300 identify wide and/or local content multiplexes in LOI2, seamless RF channels and their associated LOI identifiers for these content multiplexes, and multiplex information for LOIs associated with seamless RFs for use in aspects of a handoff system.

FIG. 14 shows examples of partially seamless handoff tables 1400 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, it will be assumed that the device 112 is currently located in LOI2 and is operable to receive content multiplexes associated with WID1, WID2, LID1, LID2 that are transmitted on RF2 or RF3 in LOI2. Thus, the partially seamless handoff tables 1400 reflect the distribution of content in the network configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 as it relates to the device 112 operating in the LOI2.

A wide partially seamless handoff table is shown at 1402. The wide partially seamless handoff table 1402 is associated with a wide content multiplex identified by WID1 and includes partially seamless RF channels RF1 in LOI1, and RF6 in LOI4, which carry the same wide content multiplex. For LOI1, the table 1402 shows that it has one (1) multiplex in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI1 is two (2). For LOI4, the table 1402 shows that it has two (2) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI4 is two (2).

A local partially seamless handoff table is shown at 1404. The local partially seamless handoff table 1404 is associated with a local content multiplex identified by LID1 and includes partially seamless RF channel RF6 in LOI4, which carries the same local content multiplex. In addition, the table 1404 shows that LOI4 has two (2) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI4 is two (2).

A wide+local partially seamless handoff table is shown at 1406. The wide+local partially seamless handoff table 1406 is associated with a combination of wide+local content multiplexes identified by WID1+LID1 and includes seamless RF channel RF6 in LOI4, which carries the same combination of wide+local content multiplexes. In addition, the table 1406 shows that LOI4 has two (2) multiplexes in common with LOI2 and that the total number of multiplexes in LOI4 is two (2). It should be noted that partially seamless handoff tables for WID2, LID2 and WID2+LID2 are empty and therefore not shown.

Thus the partially seamless handoff tables 1400 identify wide and/or local content multiplexes in LOI2, partially seamless RF channels and their associated LOI identifiers for these content multiplexes, and multiplex information for LOIs associated with partially seamless RFs for use in aspects of a handoff system.

RF Channel Ranking

In an aspect, RF channels in seamless and partially seamless handoff tables are ranked based on information maintained in these tables. Neighboring RF channels included in seamless and partially seamless handoff tables are ranked to achieve: i) Maximizing number of wide and/or local content multiplexes that are common between LOI associated with neighboring RF channel and device's current LOI; and ii) Maximizing overall total number of content multiplexes in LOI associated with neighboring RF channel. The neighboring seamless and partially seamless RF channels are evaluated in their ranking order for handoff execution to provide enhanced user experience. In various aspects, neighboring RF channels in wide or local seamless handoff table are ranked as follows.

-   1. The RF channel with more number of common multiplexes (with     device's current LOI) in associated LOI is assigned higher rank. -   2. Among RF channels with same number of common multiplexes with     device's current LOI, RF channel with more number of overall     multiplexes in associated LOI is assigned higher rank. -   3. Among RF channels with same number of overall multiplexes, RF     channels can be assigned ranking in any random order.

In various aspects, neighboring RF channels in wide+local seamless handoff table are ranked as follows.

-   1. The RF channel with more number of overall multiplexes in     associated LOI is assigned higher rank. -   2. Among RF channels with same number of overall multiplexes, RF     channels can be assigned ranking in any random order.

In various aspects, neighboring RF channels in wide, local and wide+local partially seamless handoff tables are ranked as follows.

-   1. RF channel with more number of common multiplexes (with current     LOI) in associated LOI is assigned higher rank. -   2. Among RF channels with same number of common multiplexes in     associated LOI, RF channel with more number of overall multiplexes     is assigned higher rank. -   3. Among RF channels with same number of overall multiplexes in     associated LOI, RF channels can be assigned ranking in any random     order.

In another aspect, RSSI values (if available) for RF channels carrying common wide and/or local content multiplexes in associated LOIs can also be used to rank seamless and partially seamless RF channels. The seamless and partially seamless RF channels which have higher RSSI values associated with RF channels carrying common wide and/or local content multiplexes in associated LOIs can be assigned higher rank. This will provide better availability of common multiplexes in the new LOI after handoff. The seamless and partially seamless RF channels are evaluated in their ranking order for executing an RF handoff. In an aspect, a seamless or a partially seamless RF channel is considered for a handoff only if it meets a signal strength criteria where RSSI for the RF channel is greater than a defined threshold.

Handoff Overview

An RF handoff to an RF channel in a neighboring LOI is initiated whenever a handoff event (i.e., content acquisition failures) is detected for desired content. The RF channels in seamless and partially seamless handoff tables associated with desired content are considered for performing the handoff. A handoff RF list is generated by combining seamless and partially seamless RF channels associated with desired content. Seamless RF channels are listed higher than partially seamless RF channels in the handoff RF list. Also, individual set of seamless and partially seamless RF channels are listed in their respective rank order in the handoff RF list. The RFs in the handoff RF list are evaluated for handoff in their listed order.

A Handoff_Trigger_RF parameter is maintained which specifies the current RF channel when the handoff event was first initiated. To perform a handoff to a particular neighboring RF, that neighboring RF should meet RF selection criteria. Meeting the RF selection criteria involves meeting a signal strength criterion where the RSSI of the selected RF channel should be greater than a defined threshold and meeting a handoff criterion. The handoff criterion is evaluated with respect to the Handoff_Trigger_RF. In an aspect, a neighboring RF meets the handoff criterion if the following holds true. RSSI of neighboring RF>=RSSI of Handoff_Trigger_RF+RSSI_Hystersis  (1)

The RSSI_Hysteresis is used to minimize ping ponging between the neighboring RF and the Handoff_Trigger RF. The Handoff_Trigger_RF parameter gets set to the neighboring RF if the WOIS is acquired successfully on that neighboring RF.

The handoff to RFs in the set of neighboring seamless and partially seamless RFs for the desired content is attempted for a finite time period. A handoff timer is maintained to specify the time duration for which handoff should be executed. The handoff timer may be set to different values for activated and registered flows. For example, the handoff timer can be set to a larger value for activated flows as compared to registered flows because of real time nature of activated flows. If desired content can not be acquired after the handoff timer expires, the system gives up attempting to acquire the desire content. The device behavior for activated and registered flows after the handoff timer expires is captured in another section in this document.

FIG. 7 shows a method 700 for performing a handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system. For clarity, the method 700 is described herein with reference to the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. For example, in an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 702, neighbor description information is received as part of the NDM. For example, the neighbor description information identifies neighboring LOIs of the device's current LOI, their associated RF channels, and the multiplexes carried on those RF channels (identified by WID and LID information). In an aspect, the neighbor description information is received over a control channel by the control channel logic 306 and passed to the message decoder 304 where the information is decoded for use by the processing logic 302.

At block 704, the RF channels in the current LOI and its neighboring LOIs are monitored to measure signal strengths (RSSI) for these RF channels. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to request and receive signal strength parameters related to the RFs in the current and neighboring LOIs.

At block 706, seamless handoff tables are generated and maintained. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to generate and maintain seamless handoff tables based on the received neighbor description information. For example, for each multiplex in the current LOI, wide and local seamless handoff tables are formatted as illustrated in FIG. 4, and wide+local seamless handoff tables are formatted as illustrated in FIG. 5.

At block 708, partially seamless handoff tables are generated and maintained. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to generate and maintain partially seamless handoff tables based on the received neighbor description information. For example, for each multiplex in the current LOI, wide, local, and wide+local partially seamless handoff tables are formatted as illustrated in FIG. 6.

At block 710, a determination is made as to whether a handoff event for desired content has been detected. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to detect a handoff event. In an aspect, a handoff event is triggered as the result of acquisition failures associated with desired content. For example acquisition failures may occur due to device mobility. If a handoff event is not detected, the handoff method ends. If a handoff event is detected, the method proceeds to block 712.

At block 712, a determination is made as to whether there are any RF channels in the seamless handoff table associated with the desired content. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination based on set of seamless handoff tables maintained. If there are any RF channels in the seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 714. If there are no RF channels in the seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 732.

At block 714, the RF channels in the seamless handoff table associated with the desired content are sorted by increasing rank. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to perform this sorting according to the ranking algorithms described above.

At block 716, a determination is made as to whether there are any RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination based on the set of partially seamless handoff tables maintained. If there are RF channels available in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 718. If there are no RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 722.

At block 718, the RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content are sorted by increasing rank. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to perform this sorting according to the ranking algorithms described above.

At block 720, a handoff RF list is generated that comprises the sorted seamless RF channels followed by the sorted partially seamless RF channels. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to generate the handoff RF list.

At block 722, a handoff RF list is generated that comprises the sorted seamless RF channels. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to generate the handoff RF list.

At block 724, a determination is made as to whether the detected handoff trigger event is based on one of the first or second handoff trigger conditions out of the four handoff trigger conditions described above. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff event is based on the first or second trigger condition, the method proceeds to block 728. If the handoff event is not based on either of the first or second trigger conditions, the method proceeds to block 726.

At block 726, the Handoff_Trigger-RF is assigned to the current RF channel. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this assignment.

At block 728, a handoff timer is started. In an aspect, the handoff timer is maintained by the processing logic 302, which operates to start the timer. In an aspect, the handoff timer parameter may be set to different values for handoffs initiated for activated and registered flows.

At block 730, a handoff procedure is executed based on the current handoff RF list. In an aspect, the handoff procedure is provided by the method 800 shown in FIG. 8.

At block 732, a determination is made as to whether there are any RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination based on set of partially seamless handoff tables maintained. If there are any RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 734. If there are no RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content, the method proceeds to block 738.

At block 734, the RF channels in the partially seamless handoff table associated with the desired content are sorted by increasing rank. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to perform this sorting according to the ranking algorithms described above.

At block 736, a handoff RF list is generated that comprises the sorted partially seamless RF channels. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to generate the handoff RF list.

At block 738, a determination is made as to whether the handoff type is a wide+local handoff. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff is a wide+local handoff, the method proceeds to block 742. If the handoff is not a wide+local handoff, the method proceeds to block 740.

At block 740, an attempt is made to acquire the desired content on an RF channel in the current LOI. This is because at this point in the method 700, it has been determined that there are no seamless or partially seamless RF channels available for the desired content.

At block 742, the handoff type is wide+local and no seamless or partially seamless RF channels are available for the desired wide+local content. As a result, an attempt is made to perform a wide handoff for the desired wide content. If the wide handoff fails, an attempt is made to perform a local handoff for the desired local content.

Thus, the method 700 operates to perform a handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 700 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 8 shows a method 800 for performing a handoff procedure for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, the method 800 is suitable for use at block 730 of the method 700. For clarity, the method 800 is described herein with reference to the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. For example, in an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 802, an Acquisition RF list is set to be equivalent to the current handoff RF list. In an aspect, the handoff RF list is determined by the processing logic 302 as discussed above with reference to the method 700.

At block 804, RF channels in the Acquisition RF list are monitored to measure signal strength (RSSI) for these RF channels. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to communicate with receiving logic at the device to request the RF signal strength characteristic of RFs in the Acquisition RF list.

At block 806, a determination is made as to whether the signal strength of all RFs in the Acquisition RF list is less than a selected signal strength threshold. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to compare the signal strength characteristics of all RFs in the Acquisition RF list to a selected threshold value to make this determination. If the signal strength of all RFs in the Acquisition RF list is less than or equal to the threshold, the method proceeds to block 808. If there are any RFs in the Acquisition RF list that have a signal strength greater than the selected threshold, the method proceeds to block 814.

At block 808, a determination is made as to whether a handoff timer has expired. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 maintains the handoff timer (at block 728) as discussed with reference to the method 700. The processing logic 302 determines if the handoff timer has expired and if so, the method proceeds to block 812. If the handoff timer has not expired, the method proceeds to block 810.

At block 812, a handoff failure is declared. In an aspect, because all RFs in the Acquisition RF list that have a signal strength that is less than or equal to the selected threshold and the handoff timer has expired, the processing logic 302 determines that the attempted handoff has failed.

At block 810, the Acquisition RF list is set to be equivalent to the current handoff RF list. In an aspect, the handoff RF list is determined by the processing logic 302 as discussed above with reference to the method 700.

At block 814, the first RF channel with RSSI>Threshold is selected in the ordered Acquisition RF list. Then an evaluation is performed to evaluate the handoff criterion for the selected RF channel. The handoff criterion is evaluated as described by equation (1) above. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes the RF selection and handoff criteria evaluation.

At block 816, a determination is made to determine if the handoff criterion evaluated at block 814 is satisfied for the selected RF channel. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff criteria are satisfied for the selected RF channel in the Acquisition RF list, the method proceeds to block 818. If the handoff criterion is not satisfied, the method proceeds to block 820.

At block 820, the selected RF channel is removed from the Acquisition RF list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 removes the selected RF from the Acquisition RF list because this RF failed to meet the handoff criteria as determined at block 816 or because the OIS could not be successfully acquired on selected RF as determined at block 830 or because acquisition for CC (if required) fails on the selected RF as determined at block 838 or because no MLC could be decoded successfully as determined at block 842.

At block 822, a determination is made as to whether a handoff timer has expired. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 maintains the handoff timer as discussed with reference to the method 700. The processing logic 302 determines if the handoff timer has expired and if so, the method proceeds to block 824. If the handoff timer has not expired, the method proceeds to block 826.

At block 824, a handoff failure is declared. In an aspect, because the handoff timer has expired, the processing logic 302 determines that the attempted handoff has failed.

At block 826, if the Acquisition RF list is empty, the Acquisition RF list is reset to be equivalent to the handoff RF list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 determines if the Acquisition RF list is empty, and if so, resets it to the handoff RF list.

At block 818, a switch to the selected RF is performed using the WID/LID associated with the RF. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls the channel switch logic 310 to switch to the selected RF and use the associated WID/LID to descramble content on that RF.

At block 828, an attempt is made to acquire the OIS on the selected RF channel. In an aspect, the OIS is acquired by the overhead input logic 306.

At block 830, a determination is made as to whether the OIS was acquired successfully on the selected RF. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the OIS was not acquired successfully, the method proceeds to block 832. If the OIS was acquired successfully, the method proceeds to block 834.

At block 832, a switch is made to the Handoff_Trigger RF. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls the channel switch logic 310 to switch back to the Handoff_Trigger-RF because the OIS acquisition failed on the selected RF.

At block 834, a Handoff_Trigger RF is set to the current RF. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 performs this operation.

At block 836, an attempt is made to acquire the appropriate control channel if needed. In an aspect, the overhead input logic 306 performs this operation.

At block 838, a determination is made as to whether the control channel was acquired successfully. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the control channel was not acquired successfully, the method proceeds to block 820. If the control channel was acquired successfully, the method proceeds to block 840.

At block 840, an attempt is made to decode media logical channels (MLCs) from the current RF. In an aspect, receiving logic at the device attempts to decode the MLCs and reports the results to the processing logic 302.

At block 842, a determination is made as to whether at least one MLC associated with desired content was decoded successfully. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If at least one MLC associated with desired content was not decoded successfully, the method proceeds to block 820. If at least one MLC associated with desired content was decoded successfully, the method proceeds to block 844.

At block 844, the handoff is determined to be successful and the handoff procedure ends. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination because at least one MLC associated with desired content was successfully decoded.

Thus, the method 800 operates to perform a handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 800 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 9 shows a method 900 for providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. For clarity, the method 900 is described herein with reference to the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. For example, in an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 902, one or more real time flows are successfully activated. In an aspect, applications at the device attempt to acquire one or more real time flows.

At block 904, a determination is made as to whether required control channel information is locally stored. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to determine if the required control channel information is locally stored. If the control channel data is locally stored, the method proceeds to block 906. If the control channel data is not locally stored, the method proceeds to block 908.

At block 906, a switch is performed (if needed) to switch to the RF channel carrying the newly activated flows. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls the channel switch logic 310 to switch to the RF channel carrying the newly activated flows. An RF switch will not be required if the device's current RF is the RF carrying newly activated flows.

At block 908, at attempt is made to acquire the appropriate set of OIS and control channel information from the new RF channel. In an aspect, the overhead input logic 306 obtains the OIS and control channel information from the new RF channel.

At block 910, a determination is made as to whether the appropriate set of OIS and control channel information was successfully acquired. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to make this determination. If the OIS and control channel data was not successfully acquired, the method proceeds to block 914. If the OIS and control channel data was successfully acquired, the method proceeds to block 912.

At block 912, the newly activated flows are decoded on the new RF. In an aspect, receiving logic at the device operates to decode the newly activated flows.

At block 914, a handoff procedure is executed in an attempt to acquire the activated flows on a neighboring RF channel. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to execute the handoff procedure because the OIS and CC acquisition fails on the RF channel carrying activated flows in current LOI. In an aspect, the handoff procedure is described above with reference to FIG. 8.

At block 916, a determination is made as to whether the handoff was successful. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff was successful, the method proceeds to block 912. If the handoff was not successful, the method proceeds to block 918.

At block 918, the handoff has failed and all activated flows are deactivated. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to deactivate all the activated flows.

At block 920, system acquisition logic is executed. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to initiate system acquisition logic to acquire the system because the handoff failed.

Thus, the method 900 operates to perform providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 900 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 10 shows a method 1000 for providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. For clarity, the method 1000 is described herein with reference to the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. For example, in an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 1002, a device is currently decoding activated flows on a current RF channel.

At block 1004, a determination is made to determine whether data acquisition for all MLCs associated with activated flows failed or OIS acquisition failed on the current RF channel. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If there are no MLCs and OIS failures, the method proceeds to block 1002. If there is either the failure of all MLCs associated with activated flows or the failure of OIS acquisition, then the method proceeds to block 1006.

At block 1006, a handoff procedure for activated flows is executed. For example, the handoff procedure described in FIG. 8 is executed to hand off to a new neighboring RF channel to successfully acquire OIS and activated flows.

At block 1008, a determination is made as to whether the handoff was successful. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff was successful, the method proceeds to block 1010. If the handoff was not successful, the method proceeds to block 1012.

At block 1010, the activated flows are decoded from the new RF channel. In an aspect, the device has handed off to a new RF channel and is able to acquire the activated flows from that RF channel.

At block 1012, handoff has failed and all the activated flows are deactivated. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to deactivate the activated flow because the handoff to a different RF channel was unsuccessful.

At block 1014, system acquisition logic is executed. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to initiate system acquisition logic to acquire the system because the handoff failed.

Thus, the method 1000 operates to perform providing a handoff event trigger for activated flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 1000 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 11 shows a method 1100 for providing a handoff trigger event for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the method 1100 initiates a handoff in the event of data acquisition failure with respect to registered flows. It should be noted that a detailed description of a data acquisition procedure (DAP) for registered flows is not presented and specific embodiments of such a data acquisition procedure are not essential to the operation of the methods and apparatus of the various embodiments described herein. However, an example of a data acquisition procedure for registered flows can be found in the above referenced application (Provisional Application No. 60/910,191, entitled “methods and Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Apr. 4, 2007, and to Provisional Application No. 60/945,317, entitled “Methods And Apparatus for Providing Flow Data Acquisition Priority Scheme in a Multiple Frequency Network,” filed Jun. 20, 2007). In an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 1102, a determination is made as to whether required control channel information is locally stored. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to make this determination. If the required control channel information is locally stored, the method proceeds to block 1104. If the control channel information is not locally stored, the method proceeds to block 1108.

At block 1104, flow groups (FGs) comprising registered flows for which data is to be acquired are stored in the DAP_FG[..] list in their rank order. The highest rank FG (DAP_FG[0]) is selected for acquiring registered flow data. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to perform these operations. The processing logic 302 operates to attempt to acquire flow data for registered flows in the selected FG plus other registered flows carried on the same RF channel.

At block 1106, a switch (if required) is performed to the RF carrying the selected flow group. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls the channel switch logic 310 to switch to the RF channel carrying the selected FG. An RF switch will not be required if device current RF is the RF carrying the selected FG.

At block 1108, at attempt is made to acquire appropriate set of the OIS and control channel information on the new RF channel. In an aspect, the overhead input logic 306 obtains the OIS and control channel information from the new RF channel.

At block 1110, a determination is made as to whether the acquisition of the OIS and the control channel information succeeded. In an aspect, if the acquisition of the OIS and control channel information was successful, the method proceeds to block 1112. If the acquisition of the OIS and control channel information was not successful, the method proceeds to block 1114.

At block 1112, the execution of the DAP procedure continues to acquire data associated with registered flows. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to continue executing the DAP procedure.

At block 1114, a handoff procedure for registered flows in selected FG is executed. For example, the handoff procedure described in FIG. 8 is executed to hand off to a new neighboring RF channel in an attempt to obtain data for the registered flows in the selected FG.

At block 1116, a determination is made as to whether the handoff was successful. If the handoff was successful, the method proceeds to block 1112. If the handoff was not successful, the method proceeds to block 1118.

At block 1118, all the flow groups carried on the current RF channel are removed from the DAP flow group list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to remove FGs from the DAP flow group list.

At block 1120, a determination is made as to whether there are any more flow groups left in the DAP flow group list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to make this determination. In an aspect, if there are more flow groups left in the DAP flow group list, the method proceeds to block 1104. If there are no more flow groups left in the DAP flow group list, the method proceeds to block 1122.

At block 1122, the DAP flow group list is reset to all computed flow groups. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to reset the DAP flow group list.

At block 1124, monitoring of OIS information is scheduled so that acquisition for OIS, CC and flow data for FGs can be attempted again after a selected time interval.

Thus, the method 1100 operates to provide a handoff event trigger for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 1100 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 12 shows a method 1200 for providing a handoff trigger event for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the method 1200 initiates a handoff in the event of data acquisition failure with respect to registered flows. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 1202, a device is currently decoding registered flows associated with a selected flow group on a current RF. The device also decodes registered flows associated with other FGs carried on the current RF.

At block 1204, a determination is made to determine whether data acquisition for all MLCs associated with registered flows in the Selected FG failed or OIS acquisition failed on the current RF. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If there are no MLCs and OIS failures, the method proceeds to block 1202. If there is either failure of all MLCs associated with registered flows in the Selected FG or the failure of OIS acquisition, then the method proceeds to block 1206.

At block 1206, a handoff procedure for the registered flows in the selected FG is executed. For example, the handoff procedure described in FIG. 8 is executed to hand off to a new neighboring RF channel to successfully acquire OIS and registered flows in the selected FG.

At block 1208, a determination is made as to whether the handoff was successful. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 makes this determination. If the handoff was successful, the method proceeds to block 1210. If the handoff was not successful, the method proceeds to block 1212.

At block 1212, all the flow groups carried on the current RF channel are removed from the DAP flow group list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to remove FGs from the DAP flow group list.

At block 1214, a determination is made as to whether there are more flow groups left in the DAP flow group list. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to make this determination. If there are more flow groups left, the method proceeds to block 1216 to start executing a DAP procedure. If there are no more flow groups left in the DAP flow group list, the method proceeds to block 1218.

At block 1216, a DAP procedure is executed to acquired data for additional flow groups that are left in the DAP flow group list.

At block 1218, the DAP flow group list is reset to list all computed flow groups. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 operates to reset the DAP flow group list.

At block 1220, monitoring of OIS information is scheduled so that acquisition for OIS, CC and flow data for FGs can be attempted again after a selected time interval.

Thus, the method 1200 operates to provide a handoff event trigger for registered flows for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 1200 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

FIG. 15 shows handoff logic 1500 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, the handoff logic 1500 is suitable for use as the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. In an aspect, the handoff logic 1500 is implemented by at least one integrated circuit comprising one or more modules configured to provide aspects of a handoff system as described herein. For example, in an aspect, each module comprises hardware and/or hardware executing software.

The handoff logic 1500 comprises a first module comprising means (1502) for generating seamless handoff tables and partially seamless handoff tables for multiplexes carried in a current LOI, wherein the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables comprise neighboring RF channels carrying one or more of the multiplexes in the current LOI, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1500 also comprises a second module comprising means (1504) for detecting a handoff event initiated by acquisition failures on a current RF, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1500 also comprises a third module comprising means (1506) for selecting a selected RF channel from the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1500 also comprises a fourth module comprising means (1508) for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel, which in an aspect comprises the channel switch logic 310.

Content Preserving Handoff

In an aspect, a content preserving handoff is provided wherein the handoff system operates to hand off to a horizontal RF in a neighboring LOI carrying the same set or a superset of multiplexes as carried in a current LOI. After a content preserving handoff, content is preserved in the sense that the content available in the old LOI is also available in the new LOI. For example, a Wide+Local seamless handoff is a special case of a content preserving handoff where the LOI associated with a new RF carries at least same set of wide and local content multiplexes as the old LOI. The content preserving handoff allows a device to move to a neighboring LOI which carries at least the same content as the current LOI and provide better signal strength for RF channels carried in the new LOI. This provides an overall improved success probability for content data acquisition in the multi-frequency network.

In an aspect, the handoff system performs a content preserving handoff if the following handoff conditions are met at the device:

-   1. Device has one or more flows registered from an upper layer over     one or more RFs. -   2. Device does not have any activated real time flows. -   3. Device is not actively decoding any registered flows (i.e., all     of the registered flows are not being broadcast currently). -   4. Device has at least one good RF (RF for which OIS acquisition was     successful)) in the current LOI. -   5. Device has at least one bad RF in the current LOI (RF for which     OIS acquisition failed) or has at least one good RF (RF for which     OIS acquisition was successful) with an RSSI that is below a     selected good RF threshold (Good_RF_Thresh).

In an aspect, the handoff system maintains a list of neighboring LOIs which can provide a content preserving handoff. The content preserving (CP) LOIs are those LOIs which carry at least same set of content as the device's current LOI. In an aspect, the handoff system performs the content preserving handoff if the set of RFs carrying the same content (as current LOI) in a CP LOI have overall better signal strength than RFs in the current LOI. In another aspect, the handoff system performs the content preserving handoff only if the broadcast of any of the registered flow data is not starting before a selected time window duration from a current time. This ensures that if the registered flow data broadcast is starting within the selected time window duration, it does not get interrupted by the content preserving handoff. If no appropriate CP neighboring LOI exists, the content preserving handoff is not performed. By providing the content preserving handoff, the handoff system operates to provide the following features.

-   1. Increase in the success probability for overall flow data     acquisition for registered & active flows because RFs in the new LOI     have an overall better signal strength than RFs in the current LOI. -   2. If the current LOI has good RFs with RSSI below the     Good_RF_Thresh, a content preserving handoff may improve the     probability of successful data reception for these RFs. -   3. If the current LOI has bad RFs for which OIS acquisition failed,     a content preserving handoff may improve the probability of     successful data reception for these bad RFs.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary content preserving handoff table 1600 applicable for use in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the content preserving handoff table 1600 is generated by the processing logic 302. The content preserving handoff table contains data related to neighboring CP LOIs for the device's current LOI. The content preserving handoff table 1600 comprises a LOI identifier 1602 which identifies particular CP LOIs for the device's current LOI in the multi-frequency network. The content preserving handoff table 1600 also comprises a sum of weights identifier 1604 that indicates an overall weight value associated with RFs in a particular CP LOI identified by a LOI identifier 1602. The content preserving handoff table 1600 also comprises a total number of multiplexes indicator 1606 that indicates the total number of wide and local multiplexes available in a particular CP LOI identified by a LOI identifier 1602. It should be noted that the table 1600 is designed to include information associated with the current LOI as well. The information associated with the current LOI is used to determine if a content preserving handoff should be performed.

In an aspect, the RFs carrying the same multiplex (as the current LOI) in the each CP LOI identified in the content preserving table 1600 are assigned weights as follows:

-   1. For a selected RF, if the RSSI>Good_RF_Thresh, the weight is set     equal to one, else the weight is set equal to zero; -   2. Weights are assigned separately for wide and local multiplexes.     Thus an RF with RSSI>Good_RF_Thresh in a CP LOI and which carries     the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI is     assigned a weight equal to two (one for wide multiplex and one for     local multiplex).

The sum of weights identifier 1604 is computed for a particular CP LOI by adding together weights assigned to each RF which carries same content multiplexes (as current LOI) in the CP LOI.

The content preserving LOIs are assigned ranks based on information included in the content preserving handoff table 1600. It should be noted that the device's current LOI also has an entry in the content preserving handoff table and is assigned a rank as other CP LOIs. The content preserving LOIs are examined in their rank order for performing a content preserving handoff. In an aspect, the handoff system assigns ranks to CP LOIs and current LOI based on following criteria.

-   1. A LOI with a higher total sum of weights is assigned a higher     rank. -   2. Multiple LOIs with the same total weights are assigned ranks     based on the total number of wide and local multiplexes carried in     those LOIs. A LOI carrying more total number of multiplexes is     assigned a higher rank.

In an aspect, the handoff system operates to determine a LOI to which a content preserving handoff is performed based on the rank order of LOIs identified in the table 1600. A content preserving handoff is performed if it is determined that a neighboring CP LOI has a higher rank than the current LOI. The handoff system starts a content preserving handoff attempt with the neighboring CP LOI having the highest rank. The content preserving handoff is performed to the seamless RF in the selected CP LOI which is carrying same wide and/or local content multiplexes as the current RF in the current LOI. It should be noted that depending on the multiplexes available in neighboring LOIs, table 1600 may not include any CP LOIs. This will happen if no neighboring LOI carries same set of wide and local multiplexes as the current LOI. In this case, no content preserving handoff will be performed.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary method 1700 for providing a content preserving handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 executes one or more sets of codes to control the handoff logic 300 to perform the functions described below.

At block 1702, a determination is made as to whether selected content preserving handoff conditions have been met. In an aspect, the selected content preserving handoff conditions are as described above. If the content preserving handoff conditions have been met, the method proceeds to block 1704. If not, the method ends.

At block 1704, the RFs associated with current and neighboring CP LOIs are monitored to determine their signal strength (i.e., RSSI) for inclusion in the content preserving handoff table 1600. The handoff system uses the signal strength values to compute information for current and CP LOIs in the content preserving handoff table 1600. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls a receiver at the device to perform this function.

At block 1706, a LOI with the next highest rank is selected from the content preserving handoff table 1600. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 performs this function.

At block 1708, a determination is made as to whether the selected LOI is different than the current LOI. If the selected LOI is different from the current LOI, the method proceeds to block 1710. If the selected LOI is not different from the current LOI, the method proceeds to block 1712.

At block 1710, a destination RF is set to an RF in the selected LOI carrying at least the same wide content multiplex as the current RF. If an RF exists in the selected LOI which carries same wide and local content multiplexes as the current RF, the destination RF is set that RF.

At block 1712, the content preserving handoff is not performed and the method ends.

At block 1714, a switch to the destination RF is performed. In an aspect, the processing logic 302 controls a device receiver to perform this function.

At block 1716, a wide and local system acquisition procedure is performed. Based on the results of the acquisition procedure, a path is selected from three paths beginning at blocks 1718, 1720, and 1722.

At block 1718, the acquisition of the WOIS has failed and the method proceeds to block 1706.

At block 1720, the acquisition of the WOIS is successful and the acquisition of the LOIS has failed. The method then proceeds to block 1724.

At block 1724, a determination is made as to whether a content preserving handoff type parameter is set to “wide.” A more detailed description of the handoff type parameter is provided below. If the handoff type parameter is set to “wide” the method proceeds to block 1726. If the handoff type parameter is not set to “wide” the method proceeds to block 1706.

At block 1722, the acquisition of the WOIS and LOIS are successful and the method proceeds to block 1726.

At block 1726, control channel data on the new RF channel is acquired. The method then ends.

Thus, the method 1700 operates to provide a content preserving handoff for use in aspects of a handoff system. It should be noted that the method 1700 represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the aspects.

CP Handoff Type Determination

In various aspects, a content preserving handoff type (CP_handoff_type) parameter is determined based on the type of registered flows at the device. In an aspect, the handoff system sets the CP_handoff_type to “wide” if only wide flows are currently registered from the upper layer. In another aspect, the handoff system sets the CP_handoff_type to “local” if only local flows are currently registered from the upper layer. In still another aspect, the handoff system sets the CP_handoff_type to “wide+local” if both wide and local flows are currently registered flows from the upper layer.

FIG. 18 shows handoff logic 1800 for use in aspects of a handoff system. For example, the handoff logic 1800 is suitable for use as the handoff logic 300 shown in FIG. 3. In an aspect, the handoff logic 1800 is implemented by at least one integrated circuit comprising one or more modules configured to provide aspects of a handoff system as described herein. For example, in an aspect, each module comprises hardware and/or hardware executing software.

The handoff logic 1800 comprises a first module comprising means (1802) for generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current local operations infrastructure (LOI) and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1800 also comprises a second module comprising means (1804) for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1800 also comprises a third module comprising means (1806) for selecting a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, which in an aspect comprises the processing logic 302. The handoff logic 1800 also comprises a fourth module comprising means (1808) for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI, which in an aspect comprises the channel switch logic 310.

Thus, the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

The description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these aspects may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects, e.g., in an instant messaging service or any general wireless data communication applications, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. The word “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

Accordingly, while aspects of a handoff system have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made to the aspects without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising: generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters if the selected group of local area transmitters is different than the current group of local area transmitters.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local area transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises: ranking the current group of local area transmitters and the neighboring groups of local area transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each groups of local area transmitters; and selecting the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with the highest rank.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries the same wide and local content multiplexes as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising: performing following operations once for each group of local area transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local area transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: selecting the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein said ranking further comprises: assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local area transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local area transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; assigning a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assigning a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local area transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising assigning separate weights to an RF channel for wide and local content multiplexes, respectively.
 9. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: processing logic configured to: generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; and select a selected group of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and channel switch logic configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters if the selected group of local area transmitters is different than the current group of local area transmitters.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processing logic is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local area transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processing logic is configured to: rank the current group of local area transmitters and the neighboring groups of local area transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each groups of local area transmitters; and select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with the highest rank.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processing logic is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processing logic is configured to: perform following operations once for each group of local area transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local area transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processing logic is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local area transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local area transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local area transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 15. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; means for selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters if the selected group of local area transmitters is different than the current group of local area transmitters.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local area transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for selecting comprises: means for ranking the current group of local area transmitters and the neighboring groups of local area transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each groups of local area transmitters; and means for selecting the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with the highest rank.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: means for performing following operations once for each group of local area transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local area transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: selecting the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said means for ranking further comprises: means for assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; means for assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; means for determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local area transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local area transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local area transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 21. A computer program product for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising: a machine-readable medium comprising: a first set of codes for causing a computer to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third set of codes for causing a computer to select a selected group of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters if the selected group of local area transmitters is different than the current group of local area transmitters.
 22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said second set of codes are configured to cause the computer to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local area transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said third set of codes further comprise: a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to rank the current group of local area transmitters and the neighboring groups of local area transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each groups of local area transmitters; and a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with the highest rank.
 24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said third set of codes are configured to cause the computer to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 25. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising: a seventh set of codes configured to cause the computer to perform following operations once for each group of local area transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local area transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters.
 26. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein said fifth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local area transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local area transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local area transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 27. At least one integrated circuit configured for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising: a first module configured to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; a second module configured to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third module configured to select a selected group of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and a fourth module configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters if the selected group of local area transmitters is different than the current group of local area transmitters.
 28. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 27, wherein said second module is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local area transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local area transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 29. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 27, further comprising: a fifth module configured to rank the current group of local area transmitters and the neighboring groups of local area transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each groups of local area transmitters; and a sixth module configured to select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with the highest rank.
 30. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 27, wherein said third module is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local area transmitters.
 31. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 29, further comprising: a seventh module configured to perform following operations once for each group of local area transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local area transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: select the selected group of local area transmitters to be a group of local area transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local area transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local area transmitters.
 32. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 29, wherein said fifth module is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local area transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local area transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local area transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local area transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local area transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 33. A method for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising: generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters; determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said determining comprises determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein said selecting comprises: ranking the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 36. The method of claim 33, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 37. The method of claim 33, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries the same wide and local content multiplexes as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 38. The method of claim 35, further comprising: performing following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 39. The method of claim 35, wherein said ranking further comprises: assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising assigning separate weights to an RF channel for wide and local content multiplexes, respectively.
 41. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: processing logic configured to: generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters; determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; and select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and channel switch logic configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said processing logic is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said processing logic is configured to: rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said processing logic is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said processing logic is configured to: perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said processing logic is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 47. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters; means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; means for selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for selecting comprises: means for ranking the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and means for selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 51. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising: means for performing following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 52. The method of claim 49, wherein said means for ranking further comprises: means for assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; means for assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; means for determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 53. A computer program product for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising: a machine-readable medium comprising: a first set of codes for causing a computer to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters; a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third set of codes for causing a computer to select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 54. The machine-readable medium of claim 53, wherein said second set of codes are configured to cause the computer to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 55. The machine-readable medium of claim 53, wherein said third set of codes further comprise: a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 56. The machine-readable medium of claim 53, wherein said third set of codes are configured to cause the computer to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 57. The machine-readable medium of claim 55, further comprising: a seventh set of codes configured to cause the computer to perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected GROUP OF LOCAL TRANSMITTERS.
 58. The machine-readable medium of claim 55, wherein said fifth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 59. At least one integrated circuit configured for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising: a first module configured to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters; a second module configured to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third module configured to select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and a fourth module configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 60. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 59, wherein said second module is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 61. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 59, further comprising: a fifth module configured to rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and a sixth module configured to select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 62. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 59, wherein said third module is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 63. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 61, further comprising: a seventh module configured to perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 64. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 61, wherein said fifth module is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 65. A method for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising: generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local area transmitters carrying at least one of the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein said determining comprises determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 67. The method of claim 65, wherein said selecting comprises: ranking the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 68. The method of claim 65, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 69. The method of claim 65, wherein said selecting comprises selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries the same wide and local content multiplexes as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 70. The method of claim 67, further comprising: performing following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 71. The method of claim 67, wherein said ranking further comprises: assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 72. The method of claim 71, further comprising assigning separate weights to an RF channel for wide and local content multiplexes, respectively.
 73. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: processing logic configured to: generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local area transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters carrying at least one of the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; and select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and channel switch logic configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said processing logic is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said processing logic is configured to: rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 76. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said processing logic is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said processing logic is configured to: perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said processing logic is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 79. An apparatus for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters carrying at least one of the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; means for selecting one of the groups of local area transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said means for selecting comprises: means for ranking the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and means for selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 83. The apparatus of claim 81, further comprising: means for performing following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; selecting the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 84. The method of claim 81, wherein said means for ranking further comprises: means for assigning weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; means for assigning weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; means for determining a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and means for assigning a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 85. A computer program product for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising: a machine-readable medium comprising: a first set of codes for causing a computer to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters carrying at least one of the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third set of codes for causing a computer to select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 86. The machine-readable medium of claim 85, wherein said second set of codes are configured to cause the computer to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 87. The machine-readable medium of claim 85, wherein said third set of codes further comprise: a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 88. The machine-readable medium of claim 85, wherein said third set of codes are configured to cause the computer to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 89. The machine-readable medium of claim 87, further comprising: a seventh set of codes configured to cause the computer to perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs; select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 90. The machine-readable medium of claim 87, wherein said fifth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’.
 91. At least one integrated circuit configured for radio frequency (RF) channel handoff in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising: a first module configured to generate a content preserving handoff table, wherein the content preserving handoff table comprises a current group of local transmitters and neighboring groups of local transmitters carrying at least one of the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; a second module configured to determine that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff; a third module configured to select a selected group of local transmitters from the content preserving handoff table and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and a fourth module configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters if the selected group of local transmitters is different than the current group of local transmitters.
 92. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 91, wherein said second module is configured to determine that the content preserving handoff conditions are met if: one or more flows are registered; no real time flows are currently active; no registered flows are being decoded currently; there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters; there is at least one bad RF in the current group of local transmitters or there is at least one good RF in the current group of local transmitters with signal strength below a selected good RF threshold; and broadcast of content for no registered flows is to start before a selected time window from a current time.
 93. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 91, further comprising: a fifth module configured to rank the current group of local transmitters and the neighboring groups of local transmitters based on RF signal strength and total number of multiplexes in each group of local transmitters; and a sixth module configured to select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with the highest rank.
 94. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 91, wherein said third module is configured to select the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters that carries at least the same wide multiplex as a current RF channel in the current group of local transmitters.
 95. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 93, further comprising: a seventh module configured to perform following operations once for each group of local transmitters with rank higher than the current group of local transmitters in the content preserving handoff table until a successful content preserving handoff occurs: select the selected group of local transmitters to be a group of local transmitters with next highest rank and an RF channel associated with the selected group of local transmitters; and perform a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected group of local transmitters.
 96. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 93, wherein said fifth module is configured to: assign weight one to an RF channel if its signal strength is above a selected threshold; assign weight zero to the RF channel if its signal strength is not above a selected threshold; determine a ‘sum of weights’ for a group of local transmitters by adding together weights assigned to RF channels in that group of local transmitters which carry the same content multiplexes as the current group of local transmitters; assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters which has higher sum of weights; and assign a higher rank to a group of local transmitters with a higher total number of wide and local content multiplexes among groups of local transmitters with a same ‘sum of weights’. 